Please define "extremist" for me.

Trub is an example. Emmer is even more so. there's a 6 billion dollar defecit trainwreck Trub is walking away from, and he's (!) happy to see it. that's an extremist. his way or the highway.

Who the hell is Trub and Emmer?

Do you mean like the extreme socialist that is running the country now?

Good catch w bush, thanks!

OK hotshots, what are some of Cato's beliefs?

No restrictions on immigration for one. Completely free trade for another.

I once heard a Cato expert state in an interview that he thought unemployment could be solved by having everyone that was laid off go back to their former employers and offer to do the same job at 50% of the former salary.

Jon, You lie!

Actually I don't Cal. The immigration and free trade are standard libertarian principles and are discussed on Cato's website. I heard the expert from Cato interviewed on NPR a few weeks ago and that is exactly what he said.

Cato has other beliefs as well, such as small government, but Rob just asked for some so I listed some.

Amy you must be a rock with arms.... Tim P is the only reason Minnesota is not in the tank like other Liberal (Communist States) Michigan, California, etc...

Arizona is in the tank and way on the bottom. We are FAR from liberal. How does that square up with you comment?

As the article points out, they graded A for those who "stand" for tax reductions. Daniels only got a B for actually trying to balance the budget. Seems to me the balanced budget should have a higher standing than simply cutting taxes.

As for "What are Catos beliefs" simply google "Koch brothers" and you'll see. Mostly they stand for the John Birch Society and the like. No government = good government (anarchy under the guise of Libertarianism). And NO taxes. If you look at the Wikipedia entries, their history of undermeasuring oil shipments, particularly those from federal lands, is of particular note.

Putting Pawlenty in the same sentence as Think Tank is a contradiction. He has never thought about the working men and women in Minnesota. His eyes have always been on higher politcal office.

and that sets him apart from other politicians? Come on...

jc, People often put libertarianism and anarchy together. Yet, this is a misconception. One of the founding principles of our society is private property (Reference John Locke (1632-1704)). To provide for the protection of private property we need the Rule of Law, to maintian the Rule of Law we need a civil government. The libertarian approach is simply what government we need to provide for the Rule of Law and to provide for the protection of people and property. We believe this should be as little as possible. Right now our government (Fed/local) is over 20% of GDP. We believe this number should be between 12-17% of GDP. The key issue is liberty over despotism. Too much government we have despotism, too little we have anarchy, just the right amount we have liberty with people free to do as they wish as long as they don't harm others. One of the key tenets of liberty is that we respect each other and each others rights. Too often government supplants these virtues. Remember, if you take a right from someone else you are really taking a right from yourself.

Regards

And, newday, why should the people in Zumbrota pay for aid to Minneapolis and St. Paul the two cities who get the largest amount of LGA? The problem with LGA is that the towns, cities and counties used this money as a base for their budget and did not contstrain spending becaue they thought the money would always be there.

A little over 37% of the state budget for Minnesota is for K-12 education. Add to that another 9% for higher education and the state is spending almost half of the budget on education. In addition to education, the health and human services budget is over 29%. In total, this is over 75% of the state budget.

You can't tell me there isn't enough money in this spending to continue operations. There are, more than likely, local levies that increase the spending for education.

Tim Pawlenty is the firt Governor to actually reduce spending in many, many years at the state level. The problem most people who want government to reduce are OK with reductions so long as it doesn't touch their pet budget item. The federal, state, and local governments need to stop with the wants and really look at the needs.

"You can't tell me there isn't enough money in this spending to continue operations". Really? I am telling you exactly that. If what you say is true, why are our schools cutting back on their services and their week to save money? Timmy has been a disaster, and only the truly uninformed think otherwise.

Are you questioning my numbers because I took them from the states 2010-2011 biennium budget. In the 2004-2005 biennium, K-12 education had a state budget of 12.2 billion. In the 2010-2011 biennium, the budget is 13.3 billion or an increase of 1.1 billion in four biennial cycles.

At the same time the budget has increased 1.1 billion, the enrollment has remained relatively stagnant (and dropped in several years) from 2002 to present with just under 840,000 students. While during some of this period, the average daily enrollment actually dropped below 820,000.

So, if there is more money and either the same or fewer students, why would schools need to shut down one day a week? Is it because of contracts with the unions? We always hear that it is "for the children" except when it comes to contract time. At that time, either the school board capitulates or the teachers will strike. If it was truly for the children, the teachers would continue to teach under their current contract and wait for the issues to be resolved. But, since the districts are basically held hostage, they need to give in completely.

What I am saying Danno, is that you don't have any idea what you are talking about. This from WDAY News reporter Kevin WAllevand, Local Banks Step In to Keep High School Library Open: about a school district, Moorhead, that has a high school that is SO good I am breathless in admiration of it. "it is certainly a reflection of what is perhaps to come. With deficit spending on the horizon and no promise from the State of MN for adequate funding, local businesses are stepping in...". This from Pelican Rapids School District Information on the web about the Referendum that it needs to pass "state school funding has not kept up with the cost of providing a basic education" This one of the school districts that has gone to a four day week. And finally one of the best articles I have seen about the problems that MN faces. The Conservative Elected Officials Quandry 9/23/2010, Jeff Von Whychem, author.

So, because I presented you with the actual spending from the state and that there is now MORE money than there was (by 1.1 BILLION) seven years ago, it is the states fault that schools have budget crises? Do you work in schools or have children in the school? If you do, you would definately see the waste...not in the classroom so much but definately in the administration. Why does each school need a full time social worker? Why are there multiple principles at the high school level. Much of this is in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, but they are the ones getting the bulk of the funding. So, if there is waste throughout the entire system, it affects each school.

Tell me then, where is the money going? There are 75 districts in the state that will be asking for more money this year. When will there be enough spent on schools? Will it be enough when 75% of the federal, state and local taxes go towards education?

The evidence is clear that the schools do not have the money to provide education to the children, especially here. You can be in denial all you want about it, but the facts are clear. Where did you get the idea that each school has a full time social worker? None of the schools here do, but it would be nice if they did. In fact, in the school my kids attended there was one counselor who has responsibility for 2 elementary, one junior high, and one high school. One of my kids was applying to the Elite colleges, and this counselor had absolutely no time to help her, and all the other seniors too. I realize, that to the righties, it is fun to play with scenario and not fact, but you are really reaching.

Amen, Chuck W, I can't believe ANYONE takes Timmy seriously.

All he did was leave us in Minnesota with a $4 billion dollar shortfall for the next administration to deal with

If it would have been left to the Dems you would be 10 billion in the hole.

Really, Cal? What source do you have to support that other than your own partisan rancour?

Last summer when all the legislators adjourned without a budget, T Paw saved the day and cut spending on his own. Or weren't you paying attention?

From 1960 to 2002, state spending in Minnesota increased by an average of 21 percent every two years. As governor, Pawlenty has held the growth of spending to just over 2 percent annually. Last year, he cut state spending in real terms -- the first time that has happened in 150 years. "We cut everything except public safety and K through 12 education," he says. "We changed the entitlement structure." All while moving Minnesota off the list of the top 10 most heavily taxed states.

Read more: http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2010/05/07/tim-pawlentys-budget-problem/#ixzz113VNLU4S

Where on earth do you get this nonsense Cal? What Timmy did was move all the burden to the local government all of whom are swimming in red ink and trying to raise money any way they can. He went from taxing to "fees" which is Timmylanguage meaning "I am going to tax you more, but not call it that so that you don't notice." Our schools are desperately trying to stay afloat. And don't list some blog as fact. I live in MN, I know what has happened. But, we do have nice new stadiums. Timmy is pretty good to his rich friends.

Brad, you're right, we are all getting up early to go to work looking for a decent wage, only to receive a mere handout. Communist? Have anything new to push? Probably not.